ARTIST STATEMENT
Female representation in patriotism has been multi-dimensional throughout history. From wartime and domestic contributions to challenging traditional gender roles, the iconic illustration of Rosie the Riveter was also used as a symbol of national identity of female patriotism during World War II. Photographed in 2023 and focusing within the realm of celebration and commemoration, my images serve as an update and commentary that highlight contemporary female representations in patriotism in the battleground state of Arizona. I strive to raise awareness regarding the true meaning of patriotism. One of the complexities with public displays of stars and stripes is the degree to which it has become politicized in this climate, as America’s democracy is being challenged.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Ani Tung is an Asian American multi-disciplinary photographer, whose creative interests bridge the fields of visual arts and the design industry. She holds an MFA degree in interior design, and a BA degree in a fusion of photography, digital imaging, painting, and papermaking, both from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has been exhibited in various national and international venues. Tung’s photography was featured in the Artist Spotlight during the Arizona Biennial 2020 Exhibition at the Tucson Museum of Art’s social media sites (Facebook and Instagram). Wild Pairs of Wings, a series of photographic work documenting her unusual encounters with wild avian life in the southwest was showcased in Join and a Cast: A Field Guide to Contemporary Art in Phoenix. Her photography was also exhibited in the “Perspectives 2022” show at the CICA Museum in Korea. As an artist, Tung’s handmade paper mixed-media work is part of the permanent installation / collection at the Center for Book and Paper Arts in Chicago. From the streets of Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, and Taipei, her ongoing series of photographic work, “Metropolis Mirage” is an international exploration of time, place, and social dynamics amid overwhelming presence of images and messages of popular culture that surround us; the imagery attempts to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. Tung has recently relocated from the Southwest back to the Midwest, and is now living and working in Chicago, IL.
© Ani Tung